Rivals jostle for position in succession race

Share via

ONE question remains to be answered during the final few days of the 2005 Tour de France. The destination of this year’s final maillot jaune is known, but the most intriguing puzzle during yesterday’s rest day here was who will succeed Lance Armstrong?

The 33-year-old’s seventh consecutive Tour victory is assured. Unless he crashes or falls ill between leaving the Pyrenees this afternoon and entering the Champs Elysées on Sunday, Armstrong will retire having completed a seven-year reign of undefeated domination.

During the next week, his rivals will fight over the crumbs from the king’s table in some testing and